Mr. Parnell said the other night, that Ireland is a "nation". Well, if a nation only means a certain number of individuals collected between certain latitudes and longitudes, I admit in that sense Ireland is a nation. But if there is anything further necessary- if to make a nation you require a past united history, traditions in which you can all join, achievements of which you all are proud, interests which you share in common, and sympathies which belong to all- then emphatically Ireland is not a nation; Ireland is two nations. (Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury)

Mr. Parnell said the other night, that Ireland is a "nation". Well, if a nation only means a certain number of individuals collected between certain latitudes and longitudes, I admit in that sense Ireland is a nation. But if there is anything further necessary- if to make a nation you require a past united history, traditions in which you can all join, achievements of which you all are proud, interests which you share in common, and sympathies which belong to all- then emphatically Ireland is not a nation; Ireland is two nations.

Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

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